Fast-paced, enormously cinematic, and full of inventive
world-building, diverse characters, and moral complexity, Stranger is speculative fiction and its best—and its most true to
our lives.

Many generations ago, a mysterious cataclysm struck the
world. Governments collapsed and people scattered to rebuild where they could.
A mutation called the Change arose, granting some people unique powers. Though the
area once known as Los Angeles retains its cultural diversity, its technological
marvels have faded into legend. “Las Anclas” now resembles a Wild West frontier
town—where the Sheriff possesses superhuman strength, the doctor can warp time
to heal his patients, and the distant ruins of an ancient city bristle with
deadly crystalline trees that take their jewellike colors from the clothes of
the people they killed.

Teenage prospector Ross Juarez’s best find ever—an ancient
book he doesn’t know how to read—nearly costs him his life when a bounty hunter
is sent to kill him and steal the book. Ross barely makes it to Las Anclas,
bringing with him a precious artifact, a power no one has ever had before, and
a whole lot of trouble.

Quotes & Awards

“A fresh story with well-developed characters, fast-paced action, a fantastical world, and a hint of romance.”

School Library Journal (starred review)

“Infused with a generous spirit—call it a utopian dystopia…Characterization
is rich and stereotype-free…Equally exceptional is the depiction of conflict.
The confusing adrenaline rush of war is followed by PTSD, its lingering
afterimage. The five dynamic narrators and action-packed plot deliver thrills
while slyly undermining genre clichés. A first-rate page-turner that leaves its
own compelling afterimage.”

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“This dystopian novel…has a ‘wild
west’ atmosphere…The story’s characters
and their tightly woven relationships are well developed, and Brown and Smith provide
plenty of narrative diversity, making each character’s entry feel fresh,
distinctive, and unexpected. The buildup to the action-packed ending
does not disappoint.”

Publishers Weekly

“Brown and Smith have collaborated beautifully in
creating an alternative future planet, with strange creatures, changed people,
and many dangers. What makes this book different from so many dystopian novels
is the depth of character development (including both straight and gay
romances), chapter points of view that rotate through five different characters,
and the ease with which readers will be completely immersed in this world.
Perfect for fans of Michael Grant’s Gone series. Expect more.”

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